When are my chickens ready to free range?

[wconstantine]

We recently bought 7 chickens who are going into their second year. I put our coop inside a 10x10x6 dog kennel. We have only had them since Saturday. Sunday & Monday we turned them out to the kennel. They returned to the coop on their own.

We live in a heavily wooded area and was wondering if I could allow them to free range now or should I wait? If wait, when would I be able to free range them?

 

[missnu01]

No reason to wait really. Once they return to the coop they will keep returning to the coop. I usually keep new birds cooped for a week just to solidify that this is home...and then they are free to be chickens...

 

[wconstantine]

Okay, it's only been a couple days - should I wait a few more? You are saying, they are ready to free range now because the coop is home?

 

[mandelyn]

If they are all new, I would wait a week before letting them out, and I would do it late in the afternoon so that they don't get too far in the beginning. Then you can start letting them out a little earlier each day.

Spend the time now letting them get to know you and your voice. Develop a treat call, so that they come home when needed before it's bedtime. See which treat they will come running for, for mine it's meal worms, a shake of that container with "Here chicky-chicky" has them running full speed for home. As they return, I say "Go home"... and now after a year, they'll "go home" without a lot fuss.

 

[wconstantine]

That's a good idea with a treat call. We have 16 acres - mostly woods. I am just worried about turning them out too early. But I've also read that once they know the coop is home they can go out - hence my question

 

[mandelyn]

Yes, as soon as they know where home is, they will return. About a week will have them thinking of it as home. But you want to be part of the flock as well, hence the "bonding" with the treats and developing your chicky call.

My husband wasn't very involved with the birds, and they never came to him and would run in all directions if he tried to put them up. I told him, honey, you need to make friends with those girls.

Now they squat on a dime, go home when he tells them, and some will sit on his lap. LOL

Chickens can recognize hundreds of individuals, people included. They will be wary of strangers, until they're bribed and realize you're flock too. Sort of like they need socialization like a puppy would. We don't have many visitors, but when we do, we have them give treats.

We don't have kids either, so the chickens run from "short people". If we give the kids a container of meal worms, those birds will put up with a lot then.